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Original Article
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Volume 330:670-674 March 10, 1994 Number 10
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Diagnosis of Perioperative Myocardial Infarction with Measurement of Cardiac Troponin I
Jesse E. Adams, Gregorio A. Sicard, Brent T. Allen, Keith H. Bridwell, Lawrence G. Lenke, Victor G. Davila-Roman, Geza S. Bodor, Jack H. Ladenson, and Allan S. Jaffe

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ABSTRACT

Background Perioperative myocardial infarction is the most common cause of morbidity and mortality in patients who have had noncardiac surgery, but its diagnosis can be difficult. The present study was designed to determine whether the measurement of serum levels of cardiac troponin I, a highly sensitive and specific marker for cardiac injury, would help establish the diagnosis of myocardial infarction.

Methods We obtained preoperative measurements of MB creatine kinase, total creatine kinase, and cardiac troponin I, in addition to base-line electrocardiograms and two-dimensional echocardiograms, in 96 patients undergoing vascular surgery and 12 undergoing spinal surgery. Blood samples were obtained every 6 hours for at least the first 36 hours after surgery, and electrocardiograms were obtained daily; a second echocardiogram was obtained approximately three days after surgery. The appearance of a new abnormality in segmental-wall motion on the postoperative echocardiogram (that is, an abnormality that had not been seen on the preoperative echocardiogram) was considered to be indicative of perioperative infarction.

Results Eight patients who underwent vascular surgery had new abnormalities in segmental-wall motion and received a diagnosis of perioperative infarction. All eight had elevations of cardiac troponin I, and six had elevations of MB creatine kinase. Of the 100 patients without perioperative infarction detected by echocardiography, 19 had elevations of MB creatine kinase, and 1 had a slight elevation of cardiac troponin I.

Conclusions The measurement of cardiac troponin I is a sensitive and specific method for the diagnosis of perioperative myocardial infarction. It avoids the high incidence of false diagnoses associated with the use of MB creatine kinase as a diagnostic marker.


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From the Cardiovascular Division (J.E.A., V.G.D.-R., A.S.J.), the Department of Surgery, Vascular Surgery Section (G.A.S., B.T.A.), the Division of Orthopedic Surgery (K.H.B., L.G.L.), and the Division of Laboratory Medicine (J.H.L.), Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis; and the Division of Laboratory Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville (G.S.B.).

Address reprint requests to Dr. Jaffe at Washington University School of Medicine, 660 S. Euclid, Box 8086, St. Louis, MO 63110.

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Related Letters:

Troponin I in the Diagnosis of Postoperative Myocardial Infarction
Rich M. R., Murphy J. G., Adams J. E., Ladenson J. H., Jaffe A. S.
Extract | Full Text  
N Engl J Med 1994; 331:277, Jul 28, 1994. Correspondence

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